Page 27 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2002 #37

the projector mechanism. The GK37 few years back those Kalee 12's at the This article was first published in
was a lighter machine with a return to Crystal Palace were still churning out the New Zealand publication CINEMA
large sprockets but driven with timing ten sessions a week! Not bad for & THEATRE HERITAGE. It is
belts. The projector had a parallel gate projectors made about 60 years ago. reproduced by permission. Additional
design like the 19, 20, and 21,but input by Mike Trickett.
Kalee had reverted to the drum shutter
of the GK12. The projector was built
as a complete unit with the arc having
a 14-inch mirror, although arcs of
other manufacture could be fitted.
Only six of these plants came into
the country as far as I know, and have
given good service. For this machine,
Kalee produced a 25-watt amplifier
using miniature valves - four EL84s in
push-pull parallel in the output. It was
housed in a similar cabinet as the 18-
watt amplifiers for mounting on the
front wall.
In 1960, Kalee demonstrated their
system of automation at Photokina in
Germany. It was called
"Projectormatic." We never saw it here
but it provided automatic control of
equipment including changeovers,
curtain and lights. Kalee's system
placed high emphasis on projection
standards, as it retained the service of
the projectionist who monitored sound
level and focus from the remote
The Crystal Palace at Auckland got 60 years of service from Kalee 12s
control panel in the auditorium. Of
(Photo courtesy of Mike Trickett)
course this was years before
multiplexes, and a little different to the
definition of automation today. Kalee Projectors In Victoria Regional cinemas
(Indicative only. Readers may be able
Kalee made one other model. This Koroit Theatre Koroit 21
to add to the list.)
was a horizontal eight-sprocket pull Ozone Mildura ?
Cinema Model
across. It was developed for the
Plaza Wagga Wagga 21
horizontal VistaVision process. It was City and suburbs
said that they lost so much money Regal Benalla 21
Australia Collins St. 21
developing a white elephant that the Regent Swan Hill 20
factory closed in the 1960s. They may Bercy Bourke St. 21
Rex Daylesford 21
also have fallen victim to the Common Grosvenor Lt. Collins St. 21
Market, which would have made it Town Hall Swan Hill 21
Kings Russell St. 21
cheaper for Rank to buy the range of Information on the use of Kalee
Cinemeccanica equipment directly Odeon Bourke St. 21
Projectors in Victoria was provided
from Italy. It seems a sad end to a Majestic Flinders St 21 by Kevin Adams, John Brown and
company, which produced not only
Times Newsreel Bourke St. 21 Con Petalas. ★
projection, but I'm told, very good
film studio and lab equipment. This Astor St Kilda 21
included optical sound recorders,
Hoyts Croyden 21
magnetic sound recording equipment,
Kinema Albert Park 21
mixing consoles, 35 and 16mm
motion picture cameras, as well as Orient Heidelberg 21
editing and laboratory printers. Some
Rivoli Camberwell ?
of this equipment was purchased and
used at the N.Z. National Film Unit in Sunshine Sunshine 19
the production of shorts we saw at the Valhalla Northcote 21
"pictures" in the 50s and 60s.
Victoria Richmond 21
Kalee 18's, 19s and 37s are still
earning money for exhibitors in N.Z. Pix Geelong 21
with GK40s still running at
Rarotonga. It’s closed now but until a

CINEMARECORD 2002 27